fighter force and Usland army planes.  

Karnage laughed nervously.  “Maybe not.”

That Night…
Outside Higher for Hire

A seagull sleepily cawed from atop the Higher for Hire sign as General Stately said, “So we gave Don Karnage his freedom, one hundred thousand dollars, and, of all things, fifty crates of assorted citrus fruit in exchange for the jet. He’s a shrewd bargainer, that pirate.  I gotta be heading back to the base now.  You coming with me, von Bruinwald?”

Kit had been very quiet since he had returned home.  He looked up from the spot on the dock he had been studying to say, “No, sir.  I think I want to be a kid a little longer. After all, I’m not eighteen until next year.”

Baloo and Rebecca shared relieved smiles.

“Well, you’re the bravest kid I ever met.  When you’re ready to sign up, we’ll get you set up in one of those P-51s.”  Stately snapped Kit a salute, which the teenager returned like a seasoned professional. “Almost forgot.  Telegram for you, von Bruinwald.”

“General Stately, sir!”  Captain Grogg yelled out the open window of the waiting taxi.  He was pointing and saluting like a mad man.  “Those people!  Those people were in cahoots with the Martians at Lake Placid, sir!”

Stately sighed as he got into the cab.  “Whatever you say, Grogg. Let’s go talk it over with your uncle.”

Kit opened the telegram and stepped closer to the light fixture hanging above the door.  It read: NEVER GOT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU LOOK LIKE MY LOST SON. PROUD OF YOU LAD.  OFF TO ANOTHER MISSION. ENJOY THE AIRFOIL. CLARA 

Molly, who had been reading the telegram over his shoulder, asked, “Who’s Clara?”

Kit’s face brightened as he re-read the telegram.  Slowly, he said, “Um, I think she might be my grandmother, Molly.”

“What?” Baloo, Rebecca, and Molly exclaimed.

Proudly, he declared, “She’s a real hero.”  He made a silent promise to himself to find her and the other Flying Cloudkickers someday.

“It runs in the family.” Baloo clapped Kit on the shoulder.  “Well, hero, bein’ back home’ll seem tame now.”

“After everything I went through, tame is good.  At least for a while.”  Kit knew that he had only succeeded thanks to the kindness of strangers and sheer dumb luck.  “You’re right, Papa Bear, there’s a lot about flying that the manual don’t teach.”

Baloo probably never would know all the details, but it sounded like Kit had done some growing up in the past couple of days.  “Sounds like he’s ready, Becky.”

“If you think so, Baloo.”

Kit couldn’t understand why his parents and sisters were grinning at him like that. “Ready for what?”

Baloo answered simply, “Your own plane."

Rebecca nodded.  “We’ll even help you with the down payment.”

“Wha…really?  WAHOO!”  Kit threw his pilot’s hat in the air where it was silhouetted against the full moon.

The End